Social Psychology Talbot Chapter Six Conformity

Conformity A change in ________________ or ____________ as a result of real or imagined ______________________. Compliance Obedience Acceptance

Copyright © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Classic studies Sherif’s studies of norm formation Asch’s studies of group pressure Milgram’s obedience experiments Copyright © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 2 of 15

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Copyright © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. What breeds obedience? Emotional distance of the victim Closeness and legitimacy of the authority Institutional authority The liberating effects of group influence Copyright © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 3 of 15

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Reflections on the classic studies Behavior and attitudes The power of the situation The fundamental attribution error Copyright © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 4 of 15

Copyright © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. When do people conform? Group size Unanimity Cohesion Status Public response No prior commitment Copyright © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 5 of 15

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Copyright © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Why conform? Normative influence Informational influence Copyright © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 6 of 15

Copyright © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Who conforms? Gender Personality Culture Copyright © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 7 of 15

Resisting social pressure Reactance Asserting uniqueness Copyright © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 8 of 15

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